Preparation of ethyl chloride



Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE to The Dow Chemical Company, Mid] and,

Mick, a corporationof Michigan No Drawing. Application April 16, 1937, Serial No. 137.207

3 Claims. (Cl. 260-657) i The present invention relates to methods for drogen' chloride, in the ratio of approximately the preparation of ethyl chloride by the hydrochlorination of ethyl ether.

My improved process for the hydrochlorination of ethyl ether comprises passing ethyl ether and hydrogen chloride, in the ratio oi about two moles of hydrogen chloride per mole of ether, preferably in the vapor phase, into intimate contact with a bath of molten metal chlorides maintained at a temperature above about 125 C. but below the decomposition point of ethyl chloride. The preferred operating temperature is in the range between about 150 C. and about 375 C. An excess of hydrogen chloride may be used. The ethyl ether and hydrogen chloride may be pro-heated separately, or in admixture, to any temperature up to about 125 C. before they are passed into the molten salt bath.

The bath in which the reaction is carried out comprises suitable mixtures of the chlorides of aluminum, potassium, iron, sodium, bismuth, zinc, nd other metals, such mixtures of chlorides beinrg freely fluid at the reaction temperature. eferably, aluminum chloride is a constituent 2 of themolten bath. The eutectic produced by mixing parts by weight of aluminum chloride, .30 parts by weight of sodium chloride, and 10 parts by weight of ferric chloride is suitable. This eutectic has a melting point of about 150 C. 8 and a boiling point above 1000 C. A mixture of 30 parts by weight of sodium chloride and parts by weight of aluminum chloride, melting at about 155 C., is equally suitable, asis also the eutectic of 64 parts of aluminum chloride 36 and 36 parts-of potassium chloride. melting at 260 C. The reaction here involved is exothermic in character, and is capable of developing enough about 375' 0.

two moles of the chloride per mole of the ether,

at a temperature of 60 C.,'was continuously led into the bottom of said bath at a substantially uniform rate of about 6000 cubic centimeters per 5 hour, the bath being maintained at a temperature of about 200 C.

The gaseous reaction product was cooled to a temperature of 40 (1., and the condensate collected at a rate of 9.5 milliliters per hour. The 1 reaction product was found to contain 8'! per cent by weight of ethyl chloride, which represents a yield of 83 per cent of theoretical based on the ethyl ether passed into .the reaction bath.

'By operating in a molten chloride bath at a temperature of approximately 325 C., in the manner described in the above example, results similar to those shown in said example can be obtained.

Other modes of applyin the principle ofmy invention may be employed instead of the one ex- I plained, change being made as regards the method herein disclosed, provided the step or steps stated by any ofthe following claims or the equivalent oi. suchstated step or steps be empl w I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. The process for the preparation of ethyl chloride which comprises ethyl ether and hydrogen chloride into contact with a bath of molten metal chloridu which are at a temperatmeintherangebetweenabout C.andthe decomposition point of ethyl chloride.

2. The process for the preparation of ethyl chloride which comprises passing ethyl ether and hydrogen chloride, in substantially equimolecular proportions, into contact with a bath of molten metal chlorides which are at a temperature in the range between about 125 C. and the d-- tion point of ethyl chloride.

8. The process for the preparation of ethyl chloride which comprises ethyl ether and hydrogen chloride into contact with a bath of molten metal chlorides which are at a temperaturc in the range between about 125' and Jamie nauasnca mos. 

